City Council adopts 2026 budget and related tax, utility, transportation, and grant measures

ROLL CALL

COMMUNICATIONS & RECEIVE/FILE

Amending the 2025 spending budget in the Saint Paul Regional Water Services in the amount of $75,000 for EAMS project.

Amending CDBG Project Budgets: $210,000 of funding for 30,000 Feet (1351 Arcade St).

Approving the 2025 Fund 200 - Grants Fund for Emergency Management to more accurately record expenditures.

Approving the 2025 Fund 100 - General Fund for the Fire Department to more accurately record expenditures.

Moving budget from the Public Safety Aid contingency project to department-specific projects in alignment with the 2025 Adopted Budget.

CONSENT AGENDA Items listed under the Consent Agenda will be enacted by one motion with no separate discussion. If discussion on an item is desired, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate consideration.

Approving the 2025 Neighborhood Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Grant Program awards.

Authorizing the City to enter into a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for Local Road Improvement funding for the St. Peter & 4th Pedestrian Improvement, Cleveland Sidewalk and Marshall Sidewalk Projects.

Approving the 2025 Cultural Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Grant Program awards.

Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to accept donations, with an estimated value of $62,800, from Hope for the Brave, a non-profit organization, to provide necessities for kids and families at Dayton’s Bluff Rec Center and to support a variety of special events on the East Side in 2026.

Approving the Mayor's appointment of Alina Hornfeldt to the Cultural STAR Board.

Authorizing execution and recording of a Memorandum of Phase 2 Plaza License, Operations and Maintenance Agreement between the City and Ecolab USA Inc.

Authorizing the City to apply for the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services 2026 Private Property Inflow & Infiltration Grant Program.

Authorizing the Department of Public Works to apply for the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services 2025 Municipal I/I Grant Program.

Authorizing the City to apply for $85,709 from the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Solar on Public Buildings Grant Program for solar installation at Dayton’s Bluff Recreation Center.

Authorizing the Department of Public Works to apply for a Planning Grant for the Stormwater, Wastewater, and Community Resilience program from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), which has a match requirement, to help local communities assess vulnerabilities and begin planning for the effects of Minnesota's changing climate.

Authorizing the Department of Public Works-Sewer Utility to enter into a Cooperative Maintenance Agreement with the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District for maintenance of the City-owned Hazel-Ross and Hazel-Nokomis Ponds.

Authorizing the City's conveyance of a perpetual easement to the Saint Paul Port Authority for a new dockwall near the Barge Terminal 2 facility to tie into the existing levee system.

Amending the 2025 budget to establish a transition team budget for Mayor-elect Her.

Authorizing the City to acquire permanent and temporary construction easements from property owners within the University Avenue Reconstruction Project.

Authorizing the Fire Department to pay for all costs incurred to host a graduation ceremony for firefighters on December 17, 2025 at the Minnesota History Center.

Approving the use of Neighborhood STAR grant funds for a change in scope of work for ArtStart.

Approving the Legislative Hearing Officer's recommendation for the application submitted by NS LLC (License ID# DSIBLLIQ-000216-2025), d/b/a Pizza Maya, for Liquor On Sale - 101-180 seats and Liquor On Sale - Sunday licenses, located at 1324 7th St W.

Approving the Mayor’s reappointment of James Garrett Jr. and Hannah Hills to a four-year term on the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB).

Approving the Mayor’s appointment of Jenni Severson to the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County.

Approving the Mayor's reappointments of Sheigh Freeburg, Alanna Galloway, and Nate Gurol to the Labor Standards Advisory Committee.

Approving the Mayor’s appointment of Thi Nguyen to the Business Review Council.

Approving the Use of Grant Funds through the Ward 6 Neighborhood STAR Year-Round Program for the St. Paul Parks Conservancy and Chiro Health Clinic, P.A.

Requesting a comprehensive relocation, renovation, and reopening plan for Rondo Community Library.

FOR DISCUSSION

Directing the Department of Safety and Inspections to revoke the Liquor On-Sale 100 Seats or Less, Liquor On-Sale Sunday license held by Damera Ethiopian Bar & Restaurant LLC d/b/a Damera (License ID #20110004770) for the premises located at 823 University Ave. W. (Laid over from November 19, 2025) (to be withdrawn)

BUDGET ITEMS

Establishing the Water Charges for 2026. (Public hearing closed and laid over from November 5, 2025)

Establishing the Water Fees and Charges for 2026. (Public hearing closed and laid over from November 5, 2025)

Setting the 2026 Sanitary Sewer and Storm Sewer rates. (Public hearing closed and laid over from November 5, 2025)

Setting the Solid Waste Service Fee for 2026. (Public hearing closed and laid over from November 12, 2025)

Authorizing Public Works to request $828,344 in SCORE grant funds from Ramsey County to support the curbside recycling program and setting the 2026 City Recycling Service Fees. (Public hearing closed and laid over from November 12, 2025)

Approving the Regional Water Services 2026 Budget.

Approving the Final 2026 Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Budget and certifying the Final HRA Property Tax Levy payable in 2026.

Approving and adopting the Saint Paul Public Library Agency Budget.

Approving the RiverCentre Convention and Visitors Authority 2026 Budget.

Approving the 2026 City Tax Levy.

Adopting the 2026 Budget.

ORDINANCES An ordinance is a city law enacted by the City Council. It is read at three separate council meetings and becomes effective after passage by the Council and 30 days after publication in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. Public hearings on ordinances are generally held at the second reading.

Final Adoption

Amending Section 220.05 of the Legislative Code to set rates for base level garbage service to be effective January 1, 2026.

PUBLIC HEARINGS Live testimony is limited to two minutes for each person. See below for optional ways to testify.

Amending Chapters 60,61,68, and 72 of the Legislative Code pertaining to the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area and the Flood Plain Management Overlay Districts.

Establishing Chapter 15 of the Administrative Code to establish and define structured quarterly reporting requirements for certain personnel vacancies and overtime utilization.

Amending the HOME project budgets to reflect the earned 2024 HOME program income of $3,356.60.

Approving the adoption of a Second Amended and Restated Spending Plan for various Tax Increment Financing Districts (under Minnesota Statutes, Section 469.176, Subd 4n).

Amending the 2025 Regional Water Services budget resulting in an increase in spending and financing of $600,000 for Urgent 2024 lead replacement funds.

Approving the application of Minnesota Sports and Events for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for the Bold North Breakaway- Rice Park event starting December 26, 2025, through January 5, 2026, at Rice Park - 109 W 4th St. (to be withdrawn)

Approving a Five-Year Street Reconstruction Plan for the Fiscal Years 2026 through 2030 and granting preliminary approval to the issuance of certain General Obligation Street Reconstruction Bonds by the City.

Amending the financing and spending plans in the Fire Department in the amount of $29,333.99 for the Minnesota Task Force One (MNTF1) reimbursement from the City of Edina and accepting the donation of conference registration.

Amending the financing and spending plans in the Fire Department in the amount of $4,500 from the Minneapolis Fire Department.

Amending the Fire Department's financing plan to transfer funds from the HRA to the Fire Department for Catholic Charities response work.

Amending the City General Fund to budget a transfer in of available balances from the HRA.

LEGISLATIVE HEARING CONSENT AGENDA Items listed under the Consent Agenda will receive a combined public hearing and be enacted by one motion with no separate discussion. Items may be removed from the Consent Agenda for a separate public hearing and discussion if desired.

Ordering the razing and removal of the structures at 693 COOK AVENUE EAST within fifteen (15) days after the December 3, 2025, City Council Public Hearing.

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1240 VIRGINIA STREET. (File No. J2522R2, Assessment No. 258580)

ADJOURNMENT

City Council meetings are open for in person attendance, but the public may also comment on public hearing items in writing or via voicemail. Any comments and materials submitted by 12:00 pm of the day before the meeting will be attached to the public record and available for review by the City Council. Comments may be submitted as follows: The public may comment on public hearing items in writing or via voicemail. Any comments and materials submitted by 12:00 pm of the day before the meeting will be attached to the public record and available for review by the City Council. Comments may be submitted as follows: Written public comment on public hearing items can be submitted to Contact-Council@ci.stpaul.mn.us, CouncilHearing@ci.stpaul.mn.us, or by voicemail at 651-266-6805. Live testimony will be taken in person in the Council Chambers, and by telephone by registering to speak by noon on the day before the meeting. The registration link is located on the City Council website at www.stpaul.gov/council or https://forms.office.com/g/TD3xN7WHy5. Council Meeting Information The City Council is paperless which saves the environment and reduces expenses. The agendas and Council files are all available on the Web (see below). Council members use mobile devices to review the files during the meeting. Using a mobile device greatly reduces costs since most agendas, including the documents attached to files, are over 1000 pages when printed. Web Meetings are available on the Council's website. Email notification and web feeds (RSS) of newly released minutes, agendas, and meetings are available by subscription. Visit www.stpaul.gov/council for meeting videos and updated copies of the agendas, minutes, and supporting documents. Cable Meetings are live on St Paul Channel 18 and replayed at various times. Check your local listings.

Approval of the Consent Agenda

ROLL CALL

Approval of the Consent Agenda